Production started on the Gardell Simons Trombone around 1934-35 and ended with the Start of WWII. The "Amati" of all trombones. Named after Gardell Simons, this trombone "..beautifully embodied the cello timbre." Made in small, medium, and large bore.
King 3B Concert Model trombone #1420
Diameter of the bell:
Weight:
Bore:
K
Left Top: 1939 King Catalog Picture
The King Symphony Model Bass Trombone (5B)
Production of the King Symphony Trombone started around 1934-35. Early 1935 production included #1410 which had a normal configuration and an 8 or 9 inch diameter bell. More popular was the models #1480 & #1485 with F attachment which was only built with an 9 inch diameter bell. Early production also had no slide or bell lock. 1950-51 was the first years that the symphony model had both bell lock and slide lock.
Later Sterling Silver bell models were sometimes engraved with 2B on them which is still a mystery.
The bore size also changed according the the catalogs. In 1963 the bore went down to .536 which could have been a typo.
King Symphony Model trombone #1410 with Sterling Silver bell #1460
Diameter of the bell: 8 or 9 Inches
Weight:
Bore: .546
King Symphony F Attachment Model Trombone #1480 with Sterling Silver bell #1485
Diameter of the bell: 9 Inches
Weight: 46.5 Ounces
Bore: .546 (Upper)
K
Left Top: 1935 King Catalog Picture
Left Middle: 1946 King Catalog
Left Bottom: 1963 King Catalog
The King Trombonium Marching Trombone
Production of the King Trombonium Marching Trombone started around 1937-38. This instrument has the honor of being the last creation of Mr. White before his death. Trombonium's first where only made for the American Standard brand and were only later made with the King logo. The King Trombonium had precisely the same tone as a slide Trombone and will improve the marching section of any band. The Trombonium "has none of the disadvantages of the Valve Trombone in holding, neither has it the excess amount of straight tubing which makes the Valve Trombone hard to blow and difficult to play in tune." The #1140 stayed almost unchanged and in full production until the company was sold in 1965.
King 3B Concert Model trombone #1140
Diameter of the bell: 8 Inches
Weight: 4Pounds 3 Ounces
Bore: .500
K
Left Top: 1938 King Catalog Picture
Left Bottom: 1946 King Catalog
The King 3B Concert Model Trombone
Production of the King 3B Concert Trombone started around 1951-52. By early 1953 King knew that hit gold with the 3B. Sales were very high showing the need for a large bore and bell tenor configuration. The King 3B Concert Trombone has an 8 inch diameter bell with a large bore of .508. The #1403 stayed almost unchanged and in full production until the company was sold in 1965.
King 3B Concert Model trombone #1403 with Sterling Silver bell #1403-S
Diameter of the bell: 8 Inches
Weight: 3 Pounds 1.5 Ounces
Bore: .508 Large
K
Left Top: 1954 King Catalog Picture
Left Bottom: 1963 King Catalog
The King 2B Liberty Model Trombone
Production of the King Liberty Trombone started around 1934-35. By early 1936 the model specifications changed again to what we know as the King 2B Liberty trombone. Most but not all early King Liberty Trombones do not have either a bell lock or slide lock so the locks must have been introduced mid production. Early bell diameters was only 7.25 inches but the bore was changed to dual .481 (upper) and .491 (lower) and weight stayed the same. By 1939 the bell diameter changed on #1407 to a standard 7.375 inches for both the brass bell and the Sterling Silver bells. The #1407 & #1457 stayed almost unchanged and in full production until the company was sold in 1965. This was by far the best selling tombone avaiable in The United States.
King Liberty Model trombone #1406 with Sterling Silver bell #1456
Diameter of the bell: 7.25 Inches
Weight: 42 Ounces
Bore: .481 (we think it was dual)
King 2B Liberty Model Trombone #1407 with Sterling Silver bell #1457
Diameter of the bell: 7.375 Inches
Weight: 42 Ounces
Bore: Dual .481 (upper) and .491 (lower)
K
Left Top: 1935 King Catalog Picture
Left Middle: 1938 King Catalog
Left Bottom: 1954 King Catalog
The King Artist Solo Model Trombone
Production of the King Artist Solo Trombone started around 1935. Production continued until the start of WWII.
Key: Bb
Diameter of the bell: Depends on Model
Weight: 38 Ounces
Bore : .461
|
Model Numbers: (Eight Finishes available) #1400...With 6.5" Regular Bell #1401...With 7" Regular Bell #1450...With 6.5" Solid Sterling Silver Bell #1451...With 7" Solid Sterling Silver Bell |
|
|
Left Top: 1935 King Catalog Picture
The King C Trombone
Production of the C Trombone started around 1920-1924. Production continued until the start of WWII. In 1929-30 C Trombones Model numbers were changed to No. 1475 and two more finishes were made available (Artists Special and King De Luxe).
Key: C
Diameter of the bell: 6.5 Inches
Weight: 35 Ounces
Length: 37 Inches
Left Top: 1924 King Catalog Picture
The King Valve Bb Tenor Trombone
Production of the Valve Trombone started around 1905-1908. Production continued until the company was sold in 1965. In 1929-30 the Valve Trombones Model number was changed to No. 1465 and two more finishes were made available (Artists Special and King De Luxe).
Diameter of the bell: 7 Inches
Weight: 4 Pounds 1 Ounces
Length: 46.25 Inches
Left Top: 1911 King Catalog Picture
Left Middle: 1924 King Catalog
Left Bottom: 1958 King Catalog
The King Conservatory Bass Trombone
Still modeled after the Conservatory models and starting production in 1923-24. This trombone was made in Bb with rotary valve to F. Mode with out bell and slide locks. Tuning was done on the slide not the bell section. Production ended around 1929-30.
#1130...King Bass Trombone
Diameter of the bell: 8 Inches
Weight: 56 Ounces
Length: 46.5 Inches
Left Top: 1924 King Catalog Picture
The King Improved Proportion Trombone
In 1927 Improved Proportion Trombone. This was a large redesign and trombones get engraving with "Improved Proportion" on them. Production was short as this was the base trombone model for the famous King 2B Liberty Trombone.
#1101...Solo Trombone
#1106...Utility Trombone
#1111...Orchestra Trombone
#1118...Symphony trombone
In 1928 King added solid Sterling Silver bells to the line up for the last few years of production.
The model#1111 later went on with a few small modifications to become Model 1405 in 1929 which is the birth of the King 2B.
Left Top: 1927 King Catalog Picture
Left Bottom: 1928 King Catalog Picture
The King Conservatory Trombones
Production of the King Conservatory Trombones is thought to have started around late 1920 and ended by 1927. We are not sure how well these trombone sold but an educated guess is not all that well given the short production by HN White Standards.
#1100 Solo Model built in low pitch only
#1101...Regular Model. Built in low and high pitch. This model later (1927) becomes the New Improved Proportion Solo Model.
Utility Bb Trombones
#1105...Conservatory Model. Built in Bb, low pitch only. Bell diameter 7"
#1106...Regular Model. Built in Bb, low pitch, or high and low. Bell diameter 7" This model later (1927) becomes the New Improved Proportion Utility Model.
Orchestra Bb Trombones
#1110...Conservatory Model. Built in Bb, low pitch only. Bell diameter 7.5"
#1111...Regular Model. Built in Bb, low pitch, or high and low. Bell diameter 7.5" This model later (1927) becomes the New Improved Proportion Orchestra Model.
Model Numbers: "Symphony" Bb Trombone
#1115...Conservatory Model. Built in low pitch. Bell diameter 8"
In 1928 King added solid Sterling Silver bells to the line up for the last few years of production.
Left Top: 1924 King Catalog Picture
Left Bottom: 1927 King Catalog Picture
Production of the Number 4 & 5 Trombones is thought to have started around 1905 and ended by 1918 or 1919. Some time between 1920 and 1923 all King Trombones were given new model numbers.
#4 Diameter fo the bell: 7.5 Inches
#4 Weight: 41 Ounces
#5 Diameter of the bell: 8 Inches
#5 Weight: 47 Ounces
Left Top: 1911 King Catalog Picture
Left Middle: 1919 King Catalog Picture
Left Bottom: 1919 King Catalog Picture
Production of the Number 3 Trombone is thought to have started around 1905 and ended by 1918 or 1919. Some time between 1920 and 1923 all King Trombones were given new model numbers.
Diameter fo the bell: 7 Inches
Weight: 38 Ounces
Left Top: 1911 King Catalog Picture
Left Bottom: 1919 King Catalog Picture
Production of the Number 2 Trombone is thought to have started around 1905 and ended by 1918 or 1919. Some time between 1920 and 1923 all King Trombones were given new model numbers.
Diameter fo the bell: 6.5 Inches
Weight: 24 Ounces
Left Top: 1911 King Catalog Picture
Left Bottom: 1919 King Catalog Picture
The H. N. White Trombone The World's Finest
Because of Mr. White's personal involvement and knowledge of acoustical principles and mechanical experience, he was able to nearly perfect the trombone. From 1894 to 1908 each trombone slide was actually made by Mr. White, and he knew that the secret to the trombone was making the slide as smooth as possible with lightning quick response. The H. N. White King trombone is among the best in the world because of superior craftsmanship, the best raw materials, and the worlds best design. The King trombone was the main stay of the company in the early years and far more trombones were made by The H. N. White Company than any other instrument. The H. N. White Company made the following brands: King, American Standard, Cleveland, and Gladiator (which was produced from 1940-1953) trombones .In 1926-1928 H. N. White introduced Sterling Silver bells to his trombones, which produces better tone, being clearer, richer, with a more pleasing quality. Not to mention some of the best looking bells ever produced in the music industry. Even today H. N. White "King" trombones are still played in bands all over the country. The H. N. White Company made all of its own trombones and did not stencil any for other companies (that I know of).
This page is designed to show the first known year of production (based on my catalogs) and any changes that are made over the production cycle of the instruments including model numbers and any unique specifications. In the production years of 1893-1910 it is important to consider that production of trumpets and cornets stated slowly and that the serial number list may not be 100% accurate, and that the company did not have "considerable" production until 1905. Please do not get hung up on the serial number list, it is much more important to identify a time frame of when the instrument was manufactured. This page is broken into two parts. The first part is pre 1930, and the second part is post 1930. The reason for the two parts is the confusion of models and model numbers of trombones. It appears that in 1930 there was a reissue of model numbers to the the entire trombone line, and adding to the confusion all trombones were put into new categories with new models.
Trombone Models
No. 1 "King" Small Bore Trombone
No. 2 Solo Model "King" Trombone
No. 3 "King" General Use Trombone
No. 4 & No. 5 "King" Large Bore Trombones
The King Conservatory and Regular Model Trombones
The Improved Proportion King Trombones
The King Valve Bb Trombones (remained unchanged after 1930 except for model number change)
The King C Trombones (remained unchanged after 1930 except for model number change)
1930 "Standard of the World"
Production of the Number 1 Trombone is thought to have started around 1905 and ended by 1918 or 1919.
Left: 1911 King Catalog Picture